Building wall construction



Dec. 30, 1941.

H. HASENBURGER ETAL 2,263,147

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,w// Wfl/ www/@Kg D- 30, 1941- H. HASENBURGER Erm; 2,263,147

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwn/tow H6117 lasenbzpyer Patented D ec. 3'0, 1941 ummm; WALL coNsraUcnoN Henry Hasenburger, Newark, N. J., and Harvey Wiley Corbett, New York, N. Y., assignors to Prebilt Housing Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Ohio Application Apru 4, 1940, serial No. 27,841 lo-claims. '(Cl. 2li-4) This invention relates to wall construction for buildings, having particular reference to walls of the type composed of a plurality of factory fabricated panel units of definite dimensions andconfiguration, the general object of the invention being to provide improved means for facilitating the assembly and uniting of such panel units in wall-producing order, whereby to produce an exterior or interior building wall at low constructional costs, one possessing substantial mechanical strength and of improved external appear- 'l ance.

Another object of the invention resides in the panels or siding units arranged in superposed vertical order, and wherein improved securing means are provided between the adjoining longitudinal edges of each pair of such units for the purpose of quickly uniting such units in secured association with an inwardly disposed building frame, the fastening means being of such character as to enable the panel or siding units to be disassembled when desired withoutinjury and perfectly intact for further use.

Still another object of the invention rests in the provision of an exterior building wall composed of prefabricated units which, when in assembled order, provide effective protection for the interior of a building against the transmission therethrough of moisture and heat or cold.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

tion with a sec'ond panel. a securing strip. being disposed between the panels.

Referring. more particularly to the drawings, the present invention utilizes .a wall structure composed primarily of preformed, factory fabricated, wall panels. In the form of the invention illustrated, these panels are used as siding members in an Aexteriorly disposed building wall. It will be understood, however, as the features .of the invention are more fully developed, that the wall structure may be used within the interior of the building, for forming the side walls of a room, or ceilings thereof, as well as in exterior capacities, and such uses are herein contemplated. y

When used as the exterior siding of a building, each of the panels in front elevation possesses an elongated rectangular construction, the exact dimensions of which may be varied in accordance with different types of buildings. However, it is preferable that each unit should be of such size and weight that it can be readily handled or packed for shipment. A preferred construction for exterior walls consists in forming each panel unit to comprise laminated, dense, waterimpervious and weather-resisting outer layers 2. These layers'may be formed, for

example, from plywood or molded mineral ma- 1 terials. To these outer layers, each panel is also formed on its inner portion with one or more layers 3 of thermal insulation. Such insulation may be composed oi.' porous, gas expanded ceramic materials, wood pulp, asbestos,

Fig. 1 is a perspective `view of one of the metallic fastening strips employed by the present invention in uniting preformed panel units;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the adjoining meeting edge portions of a pair of panels formed in accordance with the present Y invention and disclosing'in transverse `cross 'section the metallic fastening strip used in securing such units in connection with an associated building'frame;

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the position of the fasteningV strip when a panelunit is being mounted in wall-forming order;

Fig. '4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a' pair of building framestuds and disclosing theV cross bars of such studs with 'which the siding panel units vare detachably connected;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wall panel having a securing strip coextensive therewith, this panel being illustrated in superposed rela-- suitably compressed mineral wools, or other applicable insulation.

The outer and inner layers 2 and 3, respectively, of each panel are suitably joined to produce a unitary construction of definite form and configuration. It is obvious that when used for partition or roonrwalls. it is within the scope of the invention to omit the employment of the thermal insulating layers, if desired.

The upper longitudinal edge portion of each panel is formed to include ,a rearwardly and downwardly inclined surface 4, which terminates at its forward edge in an arcuate, downwardly directed surface 5. The latter surface, in turn, terminates at the lower part thereof in a substantially vertical surface i which joins with a downwardly and forwardly extending surface 1, Vformed along the upper longitudinal edges of each of the outer layers 2, the surfaces 6 and l forming a shoulder or seat for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The lower longitudinal edge portions ofeach panel unitare of mating and somewhat similar configuration. UI'hus, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower longitudinal edge surface of the layers 3 of each panelunit is downwardly and rearwardlysloped as at I to conform with the in- 4clination of the surface 4. The surface 8 terminates forwardly in a downwardly directed vertical wall 9, which is disposed approximately 'to the arcuate surface 5, the wall or surface 9 terminating at its loweredge in a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface I0, the latter being spaced from the complemental surface 'I.

To secure these panel units in superposed assembled relationship to constitute a building wall,

the same are supported in connection with relatively spaced vertical studs II, forming a part 'of the associated building frame. `Each of these studs at vertical intervals, spaced apart a\dis y tance corresponding to the height measurement of each of the panels I, is provided with transversely extending metallic barsV I2, stationarily carried by said studs. It is obvious that the bars I2 could be replaced by continuous'rails secured to the stud and provided with apertures spaced longitudinally thereof in conformity to the width minum alloys or other suitable materials such as brass, copper or the like, so that said strips will possess requisite mechanical strength and resistance to oxidation, corrosion or other forms of elemental attack.

In transverse cro'ss section, each strip conforms in configuration to the meeting edges of the wall units I. Thus, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, each strip includes a body portion I4 which possesses .the angularity of the panel surfaces 4 and 8. The body portion is coextensive transversely and longitudinally with the surfaces 'I and 8 and terminates at its forward edge in a downwardly directedv vertical leg I5, which extends to the shoulder formed by the meeting portions of the surfaces 6 and 1. The lower portion of the leg I5 terminates in an outwardly and downwardly directed flange I6, the latter possessing the inclination of and engaging with the inclined panel surface 1. outwardly, the flange. I6 terminates in a rounded or beaded edge I'I, which is shaped to facilitate the sheddingof water and to prevent moisture from seeping inwardly between the surfaces I of the panel and the lower surfaces of the leg of the fastening strip. While the edge I'I is rounded or curled to constitute a bead, it is l b apparent that itcould be extended straight downyas engaging the upper surface of the flange I6 on the strip. A slight gap or space could be permitted at this point Without aiecting the appearance orwater shedding characteristics of the assembly. It would be necessary, however, to have the extension project a suilcient distance downwardly over the leg I5 to prevent moisture from finding its way between the body portion I4 of the strip and the wall panel resting thereon.

It will be seen that because of the inclined y body portion I4 of each of the fastening strips, a panel unit seated thereon is, on account of its weight, forced inwardly toward engagement with the frame studs I I.l These forces are also used in maintaining ilrm engagement between the inner surface 9 of each of theextensions I8 and' the outer surface of the fastener leg I5.

The lower inner edge of the body portion I4 of each strip at longitudinal intervals corresponding to the spacing of the studs Il, is formed with inwardly directed hook-shaped fastening tongues I9, which are used to engage the inner surfaces of the cross'bars I2 of said studs to prevent outward and lateral movement of the fastening strips when the latter are operatively positioned between a pair of panel units inthe manner shown in Fig. 2. The tongues I9 have fulcrumed engagement with the lower edges of the cross bar I2, permitting the fastening clips to be rocked about the lower edges of the bars I2 after the manner disclosed in Fig. 3..' Thus, in the assembling of the wall units, the fastening strips may be elevated,as shown in Fig. 3, permitting the wall panel Ia to be positioned against the studding. The strips are thenv rocked downwardly into seated engagement with the upper edge surfaces of the panel unit Ia, such seated engagement being disclosed in Fig. 2. The next panel unit may then be applied to the lower fastened unit and these operations repeated throughout the height of the wall formed thereby.

It will be noted that the construction disclosed permits the wall panels to be readily and quickly erected without the use of tools, conventional nailing, or other fastening elements commonly panels, nothing is done to mar or disiigure the walls, so that in the. event the wall structure is subsequently dismantled, each part thereof re.

mains in a completely intact condition and may be again usefully employed for similar capacities.

Therwall formed by the present invention possesses adequate mechanical strength for the various uses to which it is placed and, in addition, presents -a pleasing external configuration which adds to its desirability in house or other types of building construction. It will also be obvious that the construction here described permits a building wall to be erected or assembled by unskilled artisans in a short space of time, thus providing an economy in building construction which is quite marked over conventional types of external building walls.

While a preferred form of the invention has been set forth in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same is subject to considerable variation or modification both in choice of materials and in the functional design of the associated parts. Therefore, we claim as our invention, all such modifications falling within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Wall construction comprising vertical studs having the front portions thereof formed with openings, a plurality of horizontally extending relatively superposed wall-forming panels having their inner surfaces engaged with said studs, a single open-ended metallic securing strip disposed between the adjoining longitudinal edges of each pair of said panels, said strips being coextensive with the length of said panels and ex- 2,268,147 v tending from the front to the rear surfaces thereof, and hook-shaped tongues formed with the inner portions of said strips and detachably connected with said studs through the openings formed in the front thereof.

2. Wall construction comprising vertical studs having the front portions thereof formed with spaced transverse bars, a plurality of horizontally extending relatively superposed wall-forming panels having theinner surfaces thereof engaged with said studs, and a single open-ended metallic securing strip removably positioned between the adjoining longitudinal edges of each pair of the panels, said strips being coextensive with the length -of said panels and havinghook-shaped tongues formed with the inner edges thereof for detachable engagement with said stud bars.

3. Wall construction comprising vertical studs, a plurality of horizontally extending relative superposed wall-forming panels having the inner surfaces thereof placed against said studs, said panels having the longitudinal meeting edges thereof inclined downwardly and rearwardly wit-h respect to the horizontal, metallic securing strips coextensive with the length of said panels and disposed between and conforming with the configuration of th'e longitudinal meeting edges of said panels, means formed with the limer edge portions of said strips for detachably connecting the same with said studs, and flange means provided Vwith the outer edge of said strip for overhanging the upper and outer portion of longitudinal edge portions thereof to hold said units in wall-forming order, means formed with the inner edge portions of said strips fordetachably securing the latter and the panel units connected therewith in engagement with an associated supporting base, and means formed with the outer edges of said-strips for overlapping th'e exterior edge portion of one of the adjoining panels.

5. Wall construction comprising a plurality of preformed panel units adapted to be arranged side by side in a common plane, the adjoining complemental edges of each pair of panel' units having surfaces disposed at an acute angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the outer surfaces of said units, a fastening strip positioned between the angularly extending'adjoining edge portions of said units, tongues formed with the inner edge of said strips for detachable engagement with an associated supporting frame against which said 'panel units are placed, and shoulder-forming flanges provided von 4the forward edge portions ofeach of said strips for supporting and retaining said `panel -units in mounted wall-forming order.

6. Wall construction comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of preformed wall-forming panels h'aving their inner surfaces engaged with said frame, said panels when disposed in vertical l order having their adjoining longitudinal edge portions rearwardly and downwardly inclined and terminated at the front in overlapped shoulder-forming regions, and fastening strips conforming in cross-section to the configuration ofv said panel edges and removably interposed therebetween, the rear longitudinal edges of said strips l having hook-shaped :tongue extensions formed for removable fastening engagement with said frame, whereby to preclude outward movement of the strips when said panels are in assembled order.

7. Means for'uniting the adjoining edge portions of preformed wall panels to an associated supporting base comprising an elongated thin strip-like body, said body being shaped in crosssection to provide when horizontally disposed a fiat downwardly inclined section, the forward edge of said section terminatingv in a downwardly extending vertical section, the lower portion of said vertical section terminating in an outwardly and angularly extending flange which terminates in a beaded edge portion, and hook-shaped fastening tongues projecting at longitudinally spaced intervals from the lower and rearward edge of the downwardly inclined section of said body.

I 8. IA wall panel securing member comprising an elongated strip-like body having a pair of longitudinally extending sections disposed at an acute angle relative to one another, a flange pr'ovided at the freey edge of one of said sections, said flange being arranged at an obtuse angle to the section to which it is connected, and hook-shaped tongues projecting from the free edge of the other section in longitudinally spaced order.

9. A wall panel securing member' comprising an elongated'I strip-like body having a pair of longitudinally extending sections disposed at an acute angle relative to one another, a flange provided at the free edge of one of said sections.

. said flange being arranged at an obtuse angle to the section to which it is connected, a reversely directed bead provided at the free edge of said flange, and hook-shaped tongues projecting fromy .the free edge of the other section in longitudinal- 'ly spaced order.

on the free edge of said ange,' said bead being I strip to a building wall frame.

directed away from the section to which the flange is connected, and means providedv at @the free edge of the other section for connecting said HENRY HARVEY WILEY coRBE'rr. 

